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Waiting to Come Forward

I am fortunate. While not all of my dates in my youth were great, all of my dates were safe, consensual, and respectful. When I told boys to stop, they did. Even if a few of them spent time trying to convince me to change my mind, I was a really good debater and none of their skillz matched mine. None of the boys I kissed put their hands over my mouth to cover my screams or had a friend lock the door so nobody would disturb us. Allegedly.

I know so many women from my generation who had close escapes, or were raped. By strangers. By dates. By boyfriends.

Many of the stories I didn’t know at the time. Only recently have women had the cultural ‘cover’ and safety to speak their truth. There are ways the “me too” movement have been problematic, but I will forever be grateful for the way it has allowed people to share their stories, and to have their stories be believed.

We have a candidate for the US Supreme Court right now who has been credibly accused of assaulting a 15 year old girl when he 17 years old.

I have heard lots of comments about why her complaint is only “about politics” and why it shouldn’t be worthy of an investigation.

“It happened so long ago”.

“Why didn’t she come forward then?”

“He was a boy. Surely he’s changed.”

“It was a different time. Our understandings of relationships have changed“.

All of those comments make me want to scream.

It was a different time, sure. But if rape or sexual assault were “okay” for men (or teenaged boys) back then, why did he need to cover her mouth so nobody would hear her screams?

It was absolutely not that “different” of a time. Rape and assault are not behavior that decent men need cover for, excuses for, and a pass. My sons are all adults now, but they were not raised to believe that because, or while, they were boys they could treat women with violent disrespect as Judge Kavanaugh has been accused of doing.

If Judge Kavanaugh did not do what Dr. Ford has reported, we should have a full investigation into the matter to clear his name. (For those who worry that will take too much time, the FBI investigated Anita Hill’s claims in 1991 and it took 3 days).

We must resist and reject those comments people are making right now to defend a man who has been accused of sexual assault. Because each of those comments demeans and diminishes the woman who was his victim.

“But believe it or not, politics isn’t the most important thing. A supreme court nomination isn’t the most important thing. The most important thing, when stories like this are in the news, is the victim, and how we treat them, how we speak about them. The most important thing is that we don’t lose ourselves in the ideological storm, and allow ourselves to say anything that even sounds like “but it was just attempted rape” or “but he was just a teenager when he did it.” When you say that, you are telling victims that it doesn’t matter what happened to them, because they are just girls. Boys need their bright futures, but rape is what girls are for.”

But, Marci, why did she wait so long to come forward?

Dr Ford has had to go into hiding because of death threats she’s received. Still wondering why she (or any woman) waits so long to speak of her story? Primarily male victims of clergy sexual abuse come forward after a similar length of years and people don’t ask the same question about why did they wait so long. We must stop questioning women when they decide to remain silent. I promise, if they don’t feel it is safe, they won’t speak. And if they do speak, in the face of the danger, why are we not listening?

Why won’t she just speak to the Senate Judiciary committee who want to hear her story?

“This woman, whoever she is, is mixed up.” He also said that even if the assault accusation were true, the past wouldn’t matter so much: “It would be hard for senators not to consider who he is today.”

A post shared by David Hayward (@nakedpastor) on Sep 20, 2018 at 5:36am PDT

Before you make, or abide the hearing of, any more comments that explain away a terrible act, think.

Simcha Fisher, again:

“Think. Think about what you’re implying when you are willing to wave away accusations of attempted rape. Think about what you’re telling girls about what they’re for. Think about what you’re telling boys about what they’re for. Think about what you’re telling victims about what they’re worth. Think about how you’re talking about these things. Think about who is listening.”

Start believing women. Start giving girls safe places to tell their stories. Stop excusing violence against women. Create a world where they don’t have to wait so long to come forward and speak their truth.

Demand an investigation into Kavanaugh. We deserve better representatives on the US Supreme Court.

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8 thoughts on “Waiting to Come Forward”

Yes, yes and yes. A high school friend attacked me when we were in our 20s. I never saw it coming.

The current “it was so long ago” argument is noxious. I had many guy friends in high school AND at my Presbyterian university who didn’t rape, assault or otherwise take advantage of women. This “partying” mentality is a far overused form of pardon.

Like many, I am beyond frustrated and sickened, really, by elderly white men continuing to dictate whose experiences matter and whose actions should be excused. But as with Clarence Thomas, I believe Kavanaugh will be approved unless the few in Congress calling for further investigation vote against him, should the vote be called next Monday.

I am most grateful for your powerful and thoughtful remarks Marci. You speak truth. I have sat with too many women whose lives have been impacted and profoundly changed by sexual violence. We cannot make excuses for this.

Excellent message. I look forward to reading your future blogs.You speak for all women. The “elderly white men” have made their message quite clear. If our elected officials are lacking any moral outrage and choose to continue to look the other way, Then let us all express our moral outrage when we vote in November.